Top Tidepools in Orange County
A good friend had me tag along for an article she is writing for the Los Angeles Times on Tidepools. We drove up to Malibu for the day to check out some of the best tide pools that city has to offer. It got me thinking that that could be a great start of a post for my site, Top Tidepools in Orange County. Now there might be 100 or more articles out there and they most likely will be great sources of detailed information on how to get to and what to see, but I through I would also share my favorite tide pools I like to visit with my kids, and also Tidepools I take families and kids to for photographing them.
Tide pools offer such a great way to fall in love with the ocean, and also keep kids entertained at such a great cost. Free unless you pay for parking.
When I get the chance, low tide and light permitting, the family shoots at the tide pools offer a unique experience for the kids, resulting in authentic smiles and organic lifestyle photos.
What you need to know before you head out-
The number one detail to check before you plan your trip is the daily tide predictions. There are two high tides, and two low each day. This time varies, and can be tracked via Surfline, or other websites that show the pattern of rising tides. I love to go if I see the tide has a - sign (negative tide) before the number and anything under 1 foot is usually good for wildlife exposure.
Next, laguna is a marine protected environment, so keeping the animals safe is a big priority. It can be difficult to keep the toddlers from picking up any animals, but taking home shells is also a big restriction in the tide pools of Laguna. Sometimes you will find a docent who is helping enforce this and they can also be a great resource for naming animals and pointing out anything special they have seen that day.
Crescent Bay- North Laguna Beach
This spot can be amazing, and teaming with wildlife clinging to the rocks. The big rock shelf to the south can be exposed and offer great anemone, and starfish exposure. Be aware that often times the summer lifeguards shut down the rocks due to heavy surf, and that can be disappointing. One great thing about this spot, is we have seen the widest variety of species including octopi and leopard sharks swimming around.
Montage- South Laguna Beach
The montage is often protected from summer swells, and can offer the opportunity for very young children to access tide pools easily. You can see tiny fish and hermit crabs the plenty. This beach also has some of the clearest waters in laguna and provides an often safer place to swim in the summer when the waves can get big.
Happy Wildlife hunting and let me know your favorite tide pool to visit if I left it off this list. A few others I love are Woods cove (to the north side) and Pearl Street (to the south) and Rock Pile just north of main beach.